Type of samples submitted to the section

Samples received by the section for testing include dead bodies or carcases, organs, tissues of various animals of domestic and sometimes of wildlife origin. Occasionally terminally ill animals are submitted for laboratory further  investigation.

     i. Post-mortem examination

Whole bodies of dead animals are submitted for post-mortem examination (PME). A presumptive diagnosis is made from the PME findings which may often require further laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis. A number of diseases can be detected at PM. The variety and number of samples to collect and test at this stage will be determined by the post mortem findings. This has a significant bearing on the charges and the customer has to be aware of this.

What is normally tested for? 

There is a lot that can be tested for under this unit.  Key conditions include parasitic  bacterial and viral diseases, neoplasms (cancerous tissue) and traumatic injuries. Meaningful evaluation of PME findings can only be achieved when the PME is conducted on fresh carcasses as decomposition is likely to lead to false conclusions. Many organs and tissues take abnormal aspects a few hours after death.

How quickly can I get PM results?

Post mortem examination results are available within 24-48 hours of receipt of the sample by the laboratory. A preliminary report can be made available before other laboratory tests are conducted.

    ii. Histopathology

Tissues from dead animals and sometimes biopsies from sick animals are processed and stained in the laboratory and examined microscopically for characteristic lesions caused by specific disease agents. The standard stains used are haematoxylin and eosin, but many other specific staining methods are available. Tissues for histopathology are usually submitted to the laboratory in a fixative (10% formol saline). As for PME, decomposed tissues are not likely to provide useful histopathology results and therefore clients are discouraged from submitting such materials as this will not produce any meaningful results. A number of diseases with characteristic lesions can be detected accurately by histopathology and these are performed by the unit.. A few such diseases are; mad cow disease, rabies, marek’s disease, gumboro disease, pox virus infections, malignant catarrhal fever, mycobacteriosis, fungal infections and tumors or cancerous material. 

iii) Sample reception.

The unit is also task with co-ordination of receipt of samples from various districts, institutions, farmers and private practitioners into the laboratory. It is a challenging job that need well trained and disciplined manpower. Any samples that are received are cross-checked against their submission paper work  and examined further by veterinary surgeons for suitability and subsequent distribution to appropriate sections. The system used is such that the laboratory analysts  in various sections of the laboratory do not have client`s details when they work on the samples. This creates an unbiased reporting by the analysts. Sample reception desk creates a link between the laboratory report and the client details for further communication and feedback.

  Costs of services by the Pathology Section